Most people seem cynical at the idea of doing self work. We spend so much time enaged in activity that the notion of trying to improve your psychological dynamics and internalised philosophical chops seems like an absurd, hubristic, self-focused waste of time. That's the impression I get - adults are just supposed to have their philosophical chops together "naturally".

Nobody lived this kind of self-work like Ben Franklin: morning and night he reflected on what he did. That is a crazy amount of meditation and self-reflection.